Powdered material spreader



5mm@ 33g 95@ C, L, RQSSELQT QQ POWDERED MATERIAL SPREADER Filed Feb. l, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 4. J7@- Mfvi L. liasse/ 07. BY MM@ ATTORNEYS.

jun@ H95@ Q. L. RossELoT PownERED MATERIAL SP1-READER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l, 1946 g 1N VEN TOR. /FFo/fa L. fosse-L o7: BY

un; m m w v I A m WNW QM' hm' NMI Wmv/J Patented `une 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT O FF 'ICE POWDERED MITERIALSPREADER Clifford L. Rosseloh 0wensvlle,f0hio Application February 1, 1946, A Serial No. 644,928

9 Claims. l

vMy invention relates to spreaders for powdered limestone, and other minerals and powdered or granular landV treating substances. The improvements incident to the present invention have application to the same problems as dealt with in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,369,755, dated February 20, 1945.

In the4 said Letters Patent, `the distributer for the powdered material was a single unit, of such great length as to require removal from the vehicleV lcontaining the supply, in order for the vehicle to pass through a gate. .Accordingly it was made vdetachable as a unit. and was arranged to be coupled up very simply :tothe Vdriving means for thefsame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby the -d-istributer which 4is alike in its general respects to that of my former patent, can be lifted away in two sections, the act of lifting away and removal requiring 'simply the release of a pair Vof hanger clips, and the replacement into drivingrelation being simply a reversal of the removal steps. As an advantage of this modication the driving el-ements for the distributer can be fixtures on 'the supply vehicle and no part fof the drive `be lifted away vfor ipassage of they device asa Whole through a normal farm gate.

In the device of my former patentdiicultywas encountered in obtaining aun'i'form spread of material. An object ofthe present invention is to provide in a very simple way for a substantial equivalent discharge of material all .along the two laterally 'extended tubes constituting the dis'- tributer.

The above objectives and other 'improvements over theformerstructure are provided for according to my present invention of which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment, it being understood that the structures shown are but an example .illustrating .the invention involved, which will be set forth .in the appended claims.

VIn the drawings: y Y Y Figure 1 'is la plan View of the chassisfvof a motor vehicle and a powdered imaterialvsupply.

delivery and distributing elementsV mounted thereon.

Figure 2 isa detail-Iside' elevation of thefdistributer when in place.

Figurel 3 is a section on the line- 3 3 of Fig ure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the linev 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the distributer showing the damper strip.

Figure'fi is a section on the lline lia-dof Figure i, and

Figure 7 is a section :on the linel-l of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the claimp as taken along the plane lof line 8-.8 yof 'Figure2.

The chassis of a motor vehicle is indicated at I and on it is located a V-shaped. cross 4'secltion ybody `2, for containing mineral :or .other powdered material to be `distributed 'over the land. A power takeoff 3A from the drive lmotor for the vehicle is connectedto one -iof two. worm shafts 5 and '6. The worm shafts lie along side of each other in the bottom of the Vf-sh'aped body, which contains two channels one foreach worm shaft. The Vdrive to worm shaft-f 5 ,is transmitted to worm shaft 6 by means of a pair `of gears l., and il, so that the worm 6 turns in op' posite directions to wormi. For this reason the worms have the thread thereon of opposite hand. It is my experience that a double Wormffeed along the Abottom of the `V-s'haped Abody is more effecfrom the bottom of the V-shaped body, In .my

former construction, the delivery from a single Worm was divided 'into two parts as it fell 'from the delivery spout at the'end of the single worm.`

This did not result in as uniformly accurate 4a. delivery of two equal streams of material as'doe's the structure just now. described.

The spindle of one of the worms, in this jinstance the spindle 511, of the driven worin shaft 5 extends through a suitable antifriction bearing in the box '9, and is equipped with a pulley .Wheel I3. By means of this wheel, .the worms Ain the delivery tubes are to be driven.

The drive is provided for as follows: Bolted on flanges I4 on a plate I5 secured below the.

two boxes for the end Yworm bearings, are la pair of mounting plates I6. These plates have mounted therein roller bearings I1, I'I, fora This spindle has a groovedv hollow spindle I8. pulley I9 thereon lyingA between the two plates, and a belt v20 which is twisted as indicated/and passes around the pulley I3 on the worm shaft and around this pulley I9.

The internal bore of the spindle I3 is squared, and there are a series of xed pins 2| projecting outwardly from the two plates I3. In order to position the plates IB so that there is proper tension on the belt the flanges I4 will be slotted where the bolts ISa for the two plates pass through them. It will be noted that one of the spouts, the spout must be diverted somewhat to clear the driving pulley arrangement.

The delivery devices are in the form of tubes 22 and 23. These tubes in a form of the machine constructed by me are each over nine feet long and they have a series of slots 24 along the bottom thereof for discharge of material. The slots in this particular machine are around three inches apart on centers. It seems best to slant them somewhat instead of making these slots at right angles to the axis of the tubes. The slots may be, for example, two inches long. Within each tube is a feed worm 25 which has a roller bearing 26 at its outer end. The spindles 21 of these worms may be in the form of a piece of tubing with the helical feeding rib secured thereto by welding. Into the inner ends of each tubular spindle a driving pin 28 is forced, with a tight iit. The pins have squared ends which fit slidably into the squared interior of the spindle I8. Each tube has a face plate welded thereto at its inner end as shown at 29 which plate has holes in it to engage over the pins 2| that project from the two plates which bear the said spindle I8.

Thus when a tube with its worm in place and assembled as shown is ready to be set into place (as shown with relation to the end of the right hand tube 22 in Fig. 4), the squared driving pin is thrust into the end of the spindle I8 at which time the pins on the mounting plate will enter the holes in the tube end plate. The parts will then be in the position shown as to the tube 23 in Figure 4, and the drive will be connected and the tube held at its inner end against falling and also against rotation.

There are hangers 3i] at each side of the chassis of the Vehicle. I have shown only one such hanger on each side of the chassis but it is to be understood that a plurality of such could be had if desired. The hangers 30 are curved so as to receive the tubes 22 and 23 and support them intermediate their ends. Secured to each hanger 30 is a hook 39a. Clamps 3| to hold the tubes in the hangers 30 are so arranged as to retain them against endwise play also.

Such clamps 3| (see Figures 2, 8, 9 and 10) are constructed as follows: Hinged to the tip of each hanger 3|! at pivot 30h is a yoke 3Ia and pivoted on the arms of the yoke Bla at pivot 3Ib are the arms 'of a bail or lever 3|c having a closed end 3|d; pivoted to the bail 3|c at pivot 3|e is the yoke 3|, having a cross bar 3|g.

Each of the tubes 22 and 23 has lugs 32 on their upper side.

In operation the clamps 3| are manipulated as follows: As shown in Figure 9 the yoke 3| f is first brought down towards the lug 32 and its cross bar 3|g dropped into the hook 33a. In this position (Figure 9) the clamp 3| is in a relaxed position and not yet in compression, both pivot points 3|b and 3|e being above the center line between pivot 38h and the centerl point of cross bar 3|g. The operator then pushes (with his hand or by proper use of the lever or bail 3io) the pivot points 3 ib and 3 Ie below the afore= mentioned center line. To do this requires that the hanger 30 be sprung outward slightly. When the points 3ib and 3Ie are both below said center line, however, the clamp 3| (see Figure l0) is again in a relaxed position vbut the yoke 3|f now rests on the tube 23 about its lug 32. When the lever or bail 3io is next pushed toward the yoke 3| f about the pivot 34e, the pivot 3|b is brought above said aforementioned center line and the hanger 30 is again sprung. When the lever or bail 3|c nears the yoke 3|f, the hanger 3i! being sprung will cause the clamp mechanism to be in compression and the lever or bail 3io will snap down towards the yoke 3| f until the closed end 3Id contacts the end of the hook 33a. This is the position of the clamp 3| when in use (i. e. under compression) as seen in Figure 2. In this position the pivot point 3Ib is above said aforementioned center line, while the pivot Sie is below it and the hanger 30 is slightly sprung thus causing the mechanism of clamp 3| to be in compression.

If a heavy shock is imparted to the clamp 3| through the tube 23 the yoke 3U vvill be pushed up and the pivot 3 ie raised to that position shown in Figure 9. The clamp 3| now being relaxed the cross bar 3| g may .be easily lifted from the hook 30a.

It should be noted that, with a little practice, the operator, when applying the clamp, may put the various yokes and bail directly in the position illustrated in Figure 10 without rst p0- sitioning the clamp as at Figure 9. This will avoid having to spring the hanger 30 just to get from the position of Figure 9 to that -of Figure 10 as first above described. In this connection it should be noted that both Figures 9 and l0 show the clamp mechanism in a relaxed position and that Figure 2 shows said clamp in actual locking position under compression.

When it is desired to pass the device through a gate, the levers or bails 3| c of the clamps 3| are raised and the cross bar 3Ig lifted from the hook 33a, and the two tubes then individually lifted and pulled out endwise. Each tube has a shallow hopper 33 at its inner end which when the tube is mounted comes underneath the openV end of one of the spouts I I and I2.

It remains to describe and explain the feed control device. In connection with my original machines the discharge holes in the tubular distributer were simple round holes which could be opened or closed .by a sliding damper or dampers.

There was no way of controlling the amount of required is that with some materials the amount which discharges from the holes nearest thev drive end of the distributing tube worms, i. e..

nearest the hoppers on the tubes, is considerably greater than the amount which discharges from the outer holes. In other materials the holes can be left open in full, and fairly equal amounts will fall through each hole. diiference in amount which discharges it grades away gradually from the receiving end to theA outer end of each tube.

With the arrangement now described invwhichja Where there is a ia-aiutare y'rziistributer :element .ipresentssa series'fo adiacentslotszzfinea;,lmefalongttheoet- "tomitliereo, `I. provideiafcontrol fplate voridaniper dn the form Kuf :arflongfthfin: pieceI off. sheet metal kaswvide'asthe slotsom: forr'eachioeth tubes. providefazfsetfiof elampingntings: pprei.- erably @three :in number, 'fwhich "engagefiarbxzind 'the tubev rand' vclamp ithendamperfstripf in'plece. The damper strips were Islightly curved :inicro'ss sectioniioft :ilatagainstflthetwo tubes.

Now since the damper strip is iiexible it can be pulled outfs'offline. Asindicate'd in Figure 5, the son eachv of. the et-Wo i tubes w22 rfand 123 'has been clamped at its innerendfso-astosclose all but a sfmallamount `ofthe inst-discharge slot. It then slopes slightly spirally with reference to the tube so as to leave openiricreasing amounts fr'li-each discharge us-letvuntil at `thel outer end the slots fare almostentirelyexposed. Thetnree 'clamping 'rings hold -thews'tripiin adjusted '-pov sition. -Alsoi'fthe inner endet-each damperstrlp may `be held ina strap on'the "bottom of the tube asjindicated at 35a, this vsuspension leaving freedomior damper-adjustment. Y Y,

ft 'isinot*necessarytor'enorce a positioniof the damper strips in an even spiral. They can befalmost" straight withv the row `of slots-:fromfthe iirst ring to Lthesecondring and vthen slope spirally more sharply.

In operation the vehicle is brought to a position for operation. Since the driving wheels for the vehicle are not connected with the drive for the mineral delivery and discharge, the delivery and discharge mechanism can be driven for a short period with the slots fully exposed by the damper or closing strips. Small piles of mineral will collect on the ground and the operator can gauge the relative amounts in the piles. He then loosens the clamps. and arranges the damper strip at each side to the required spiral to shut oi the holes delivering the most and leave open those holes which fell behind in the operation. This has been found to be a simple operation, and assures that a job of placing mineral on the soil, say for example lime, will be uniform, and when some other material, such as phosphates, which behave in a different way is being spread, again a uniform job entirely across the space subtended by the distributer device can be obtained.

It will lbe evident that within the novelty inherent in the structure described, various mechanical changes can be made which will be equivalents in structure and behavior and I Wish to cover these in the appended claims. Thus the damper strips could be inside the tube and held in place by means of studs projecting through the slots.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to `secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a vehicle, a powder distributing member located transversely of the vehicle and extending beyond the sides thereof, said distributing member comprising two equal sections adapted to be secured together for common operation when in operative position on said vehicle, each of said sections comprising a casing having eiilux openings therein, a worm feed in each said casing, a hopper for each said casing, and means for quickly detachably mounting the two said casings on the vehicle, and a quickly detachable drive from the vehicle to the worm feeds. said mounting means comprising brackets on the vehicle in which the casings rest,

'6 and'zltch:meansftozholdfthe Vcasings against jarring-outlof the brackets.

i2. IThe:` combination with a vehiclehavingfa V-tshapedri'body, Lfor containing Vpulverulent material-.to 'be delivered' totheland, a pair of worms thezfapex'of said body, :adapted to :deliver each a stream :of `equal amountifrom- .the :back vend ,of said "Vs'hapedz body.' a driving vmechanism land :a distributor foperatednthereby 'at the "rear of said V-shaped :bodygsaidv distributor `comprising :a pair ofia'terally u,extending tubes. havingzfhopper .means -inpositionewhen lthe' tubes are mounted to receive material .ieachirom ;one of said streams. means for removably supporting .said Vtubes con therearof theivehicle, worms inesaid tubes havingierrdstortislidably into driving relation with thepidrivingi mechanism, 'a series of .slots lengthwise :of *.'the tubes cfor delivery of. material, 'and means for closingv tiret-slots. in selective :amounts 'aionghtheztubes so vthat'the slots Vnear the inner endrof'ifsaidtubesrare more nearly closed than thezslots near the outer end Lof said tubes, where'- byequal'amountsima'y beidelivered from the arrangement entirely along` the said tubes, but each tube maybe li'ftedaway for passage oirthe ve'- hiclelthr'cugh'a-gateway, said slot closing means comprising a strip ,which abuts the :surface oi -a sai'dl'tube dadjacent Vv.theslots provided therein, said strip being provided with means for securing it to said tube in a predetermined twisted position for the purpose described.

3. In a powdered material distributer for the land, the combination with means for supplying streams of powdered material to a long tubular distributer having a series of discharge openings therein in a row lengthwise thereof, a exible damper strip shaped to fit said tubular distributer and capable of being twisted so as to cover said row of holes at least partially and in varying degrees, from a minimum degree of opening at the material receiving portion of said distributor towards a maximum degree of opening at the other end of said distributor, and means for retaining said strip in desired position of distortion spirally of the tubular -distributer, forl the purpose described.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the means for retaining the said strip are a series of clamps engaging the strip and the tubular distributer.

5. In a powdered material distributing machine having Imeans for delivering a stream of powdered material, a tube projecting laterally from the machine, a worm in the tube driven to feed material along the tube, said tube having means to receive the material at one end thereof, a series of holes lengthwise of the tube in a straight line constituting discharge openings, and a strip arranged to abut the surface of the tube adjacent said openings to serve as a damper therefor, said strip passing across a series of said holes, and means for adjusting said strip in dif- :ferent positions at a slant to said straight line, thereby disclosing diierent amounts of the said openings, said diierent amounts ranging from a minimum degree of opening at the material receiving end of said tube towards a maximum degree of opening at the outer end of said tube.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the openings are in the form fof slots transverse the tube.

'7. The combination of claim 5 in which the said strip extends the full length of the tube.

8. In a spreading machine for distribution of pulverulent material onto the soil, a transverse nexium 7 tube and screw conveyor element of such length as to require lifting away from the machine for passage through a gate or doorway, means on the machine for driving the screw element, said screw and said means having siidabie connection, and means on the machine for supporting the tube intermediate its length comprising a hanger, and a clamp secured thereto, said clamp comprising a pair of elements pivoted to a third element, one of said pair of elements having a hook engagement with an inner portion of the hanger, the other of said pair of elements having pivotal engagement with an outer portion of the hanger, said third element being arranged to alternately extend and contract the length- Wise extent of the pair of elements combined.

9. In a spreading machine for distribution of pulverulent material onto the soil, a transverse tube and screw conveyor element of such length as to require lifting away from the machine for passage through a gate or doorway, means on the machine for driving the screw element, said screw and said means having slidable connection, and means on the machine for supporting the tube intermediate its length, said means comprising a hanger, and a clamp thereon, said clamp comprising a pair of yokes pivotedto a bail, eachV at a. different point on said bail, one of said yokes being also. pivoted to the hanger andthe other having 'projecting means to seat in" a hook ron the opposite side of the hanger, said baiibeing pivoted to the two yoke members so as to deflect the vpivotal points of said members on said bail and thereby extend said pair of yokes in length to eifect'a clamping of the tube, one of said pair ofyokeelements having an opening therein to t about a lug on said tube.

CLIFFORD L. ROSSELOT.

Thefollowing references are of record in `th le of this patent: c.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

